'''Carn Dûm''' was the capital and chief fortress of the [[Witch-king]]'s realm of [[Angmar]].<ref>{{UT|Index}}, ''Carn Dûm''</ref> It was located at the western end of the [[Mountains of Angmar]], the northwestern extension of the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref>{{UT|Map}}</ref>

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==History==

==History==

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Established on the very western end of the [[Mountains of Angmar]], it was inhabited by the [[Witch-king of Angmar]] and his many servants: [[Men of Darkness]], [[Orcs]], and other fell creatures. From here he based his attacks on the three petty realms of [[Arnor]], quickly managing to destroy [[Rhudaur]] and later [[Cardolan]].

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Around {{TA|1300}} the chief of the [[Nazgûl]] came north to found the realm of [[Angmar]],<ref name="TA">{{App|TA}}</ref> seeing hope in the disunion of [[Arnor]] while the southern kingdom of[[Gondor]] remained powerful. The Witch-king, as he became known, established Carn Dûm as his capital and populated it with [[Men of Darkness|evil men]], [[Orcs]], and other fell creatures.

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Allying with the [[Hill-men]] of [[Rhudaur]], the Witch-king in Carn Dûm sent forces that resisted the claim of [[Argeleb I]] of [[Arthedain]] of lordship over all of the former lands of [[Arnor]].<ref name="North">{{App|Eriador}}</ref> Clashes resulted and in {{TA|1356|n}} Argeleb was slain.<ref name="TA"/> [[Arveleg I]], the son of Argeleb, with strength from [[Cardolan]] and [[Lindon]], repelled Rhudaur and Angmar from the [[Weather Hills]] and established an uneasy, fortified frontier.

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In {{TA|1409|n}} a stronger host commanded from Carn Dûm invaded [[Cardolan]], surrounded [[Weathertop]], and killed Arveleg. Again a coalition of Arthedain (now ruled by [[Araphor]], son of Arveleg I) and Lindon contained the menace.

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The kingdom of [[Arthedain]] perished in the [[Fall of Fornost]] in {{TA|1974|n}}.<ref name="North"/> However, in {{TA|1975|n}}<ref name="TA"/> the Witch-king's forces were driven northeast after the [[Battle of Fornost]] by the cavalry of Gondor and destroyed. [[Glorfindel of Rivendell|Glorfindel]] drove off the Witch-king himself.

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The host of Gondor left no Man or Orc alive west of the Mountains.<ref name="North"/> On the eastern side in {{TA|1977|n}} [[Frumgar]] led the [[Éothéod]] into the North<ref name="TA"/> and they drove the last remnants of [[Angmar]] away.<ref>{{App|Eorl}}</ref> At this time then Carn Dûm was wholly abandoned. While it is possible that Carn Dûm was repopulated after {{TA|2480|n}}, when Orcs began making secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains,<ref name="TA"/> its name was never mentioned again in any histories.

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[[Arthedain]] fell in the [[Battle of Fornost]] in [[Third Age 1974]], but the Witch-king was routed by [[Glorfindel of Rivendell|Glorfindel]] and in [[Third Age 1975|1975]] Angmar itself fell under an assault, and Carn Dûm was sieged by the [[Dúnedain]] of [[Gondor]], the survivors of [[Arnor]], and [[Elves]] of [[Lindon]]. Carn Dûm was utterly destroyed, although some Orcs survived there until at least the [[War of the Dwarves and Orcs]] and possibly after as well, until they were wiped out by [[Elessar]], [[High King]] of the [[Reunited Kingdom]].{{fact}}

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

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The etymology of ''Carn Dûm'' is uncertain. Concerning the [[primary world|real world]] languages, it could be [[wikipedia:Gaelic|Gaelic]], in which it roughly translates as "mountain fortress";<ref>[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/c/carndum.html Carn Dûm] at the [[Encyclopedia of Arda]]</ref> although Tolkien uses Celtic elements for some translated [[Mannish]] names, this would have been the only instance where he uses Gaelic. It is unknown whether this is just coincidence or not.

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The etymology of ''Carn Dûm'' is uncertain. Concerning the real world languages, it could be [[wikipedia:Gaelic|Gaelic]], in which it roughly translates as "mountain fortress";<ref>[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/c/carndum.html Carn Dûm] at the [[Encyclopedia of Arda]]</ref> although Tolkien uses [[Celtic]] elements for some translated [[Mannish]] names, this would have been the only instance where he uses Gaelic. It is unknown whether this is just coincidence or not.

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Though [[Sindarin]] in form and sound, neither words ''carn'' and ''dûm'' have been attested in Sindarin. ''Carn'' could be a form of ''[[caran]]'', "red" possibly also seen in "[[carcharoth|'''Car'''charoth]]", "[[red maw]]".

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Though [[Sindarin]] in form and sound, neither words ''carn'' and ''dûm'' have been attested in Sindarin. ''Carn'' could be a form of ''[[caran]]'', "red" possibly also seen in ''[[carcharoth|'''Car'''charoth]]'', "red maw".

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''[[Dûm]]'' is a [[Khuzdul]] word meaning "halls, mansions". The name could be [[Khuzdul]] (like [[Gundabad]] nearby) but [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] used ''K'' for this language instead of ''C''<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', ''[[Appendix E]]'', "Pronounciation of Words and Names"</ref>.

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''[[Dûm]]'' is a [[Khuzdul]] word meaning "halls, mansions". The name could be [[Khuzdul]] (like [[Gundabad]] nearby) but [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] used ''K'' for this language instead of ''C''.<ref>{{App|E1}}</ref>

Other than that, it could be some unrecorded [[Avarin]] or [[Mannish]] language.

Other than that, it could be some unrecorded [[Avarin]] or [[Mannish]] language.

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==References==

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In ''[[The Return of the Shadow]]'', "Carndoom" appears as an early name of [[Dimrill Dale]] which, according to Tolkien, means "Red Valley". This corresponds with Sindarin ''carn'' "red" and ''tûm'' "valley".<ref>{{RS|4XXIVN}} (note 13, p. 433)</ref>

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<small><references /></small>

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==See also==

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* [[:Category:Images of Carn Dûm|Images of Carn Dûm]]

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==Portrayal in adaptations==

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'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king]]'':'''

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:Carn Dum is the capital of [[Angmar]]. The campaign begins with its construction, and it is besieged once by [[Glorfindel]]. Carn dum is also playabe in the skirmish section of the game.

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'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''

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:Carn Dum is a region in the game. It is ruled by Angmar's shadow that has returned to this city in the form of the False King, [[Mordirith]], Steward of Angmar.

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'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]":'''

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:Carn Dum is the final level in the game. It is ruled by [[Agandaûr]], a descendant of the [[Black Númenóreans]] and a servant of [[Sauron]].

Contents

History

Around T.A.1300 the chief of the Nazgûl came north to found the realm of Angmar,[3] seeing hope in the disunion of Arnor while the southern kingdom ofGondor remained powerful. The Witch-king, as he became known, established Carn Dûm as his capital and populated it with evil men, Orcs, and other fell creatures.

In 1409 a stronger host commanded from Carn Dûm invaded Cardolan, surrounded Weathertop, and killed Arveleg. Again a coalition of Arthedain (now ruled by Araphor, son of Arveleg I) and Lindon contained the menace.

The host of Gondor left no Man or Orc alive west of the Mountains.[4] On the eastern side in 1977Frumgar led the Éothéod into the North[3] and they drove the last remnants of Angmar away.[5] At this time then Carn Dûm was wholly abandoned. While it is possible that Carn Dûm was repopulated after 2480, when Orcs began making secret strongholds in the Misty Mountains,[3] its name was never mentioned again in any histories.

Etymology

The etymology of Carn Dûm is uncertain. Concerning the real world languages, it could be Gaelic, in which it roughly translates as "mountain fortress";[6] although Tolkien uses Celtic elements for some translated Mannish names, this would have been the only instance where he uses Gaelic. It is unknown whether this is just coincidence or not.

Though Sindarin in form and sound, neither words carn and dûm have been attested in Sindarin. Carn could be a form of caran, "red" possibly also seen in Carcharoth, "red maw".